the alarm clock rang its way through my R.E.M. cycle. beep. beep. beep. after what had seemed to be 13 chimes, i mustered the energy to turn the clock off. i stretched my arms outward and yawned as the sunlight from my window warmed up my eyelids. i glanced down at my phone: no new notifications. fuck. you'd think that for someone overcoming their own doubts and taking initiative toward progressing in their career, ones' partner would wish them a good first day. figures. the date read august 10th. the fall semester at university begun late august, but for students living on campus, the move-in day was today. i moved my body toward the edge of my bed to prepare for my day. today was the last morning in my childhood room, in my childhood home. the entirety of it all was bittersweet, but also enticing at the same time. knowing that many possibilities lie ahead is exciting but also very terrifying. i could smell the aroma of canela y café which only meant one thing: my mother was making me one last meal before sending me off to school. even though i'm 22, that doesn't matter to mi madre. in her eyes, i'm still her mijita.
